Mahathir said that by freezing the NGO’s accounts, resulting in the suspension of winter aid, MACC was concurrently penalising the Palestinian people.

“If MACC is doubtful of whether the funds will reach the Palestinian people, they can send their officers to accompany the Aman Palestin representative entrusted with disbursing the funds,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On Nov 21, the anti-graft agency froze 41 bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin and several other companies – which had a combined total of RM15.8 million – as part of investigations into the alleged misappropriation of RM70 million by the NGO.

The investigations involve claims that the NGO funnelled the money into these companies.

The case is being probed under the MACC Act 2009, the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, and the Penal Code.

On Monday, the NGO’s lawyer Rafique Rashid questioned the timing of MACC’s decision to freeze the accounts, which he claimed was made a day after its winter aid announcement.